Pedestrian Protection Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9297
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Transportation and Public Works
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-11: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-02T13:29:51Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The legislation, titled the Pedestrian Protection Act, amends title 49 of the United States Code to require the Secretary of Transportation to establish motor vehicle safety standards and consumer information requirements aimed at reducing collisions involving pedestrians, bicyclists, and other vulnerable road users.
Key Provisions
- New Safety Standards (Section 2): Adds Section 30130 to require the Secretary to initiate rulemakings within specified timelines:
- Within 3 years, establish or modify standards considering hood, bumper, windshield design, vehicle height, and weight to reduce deaths and injuries from collisions (including low-speed incidents in driveways or parking lots).
- Within 4 years, establish minimum visibility standards for motor vehicles.
- Final rules must be issued within 2 years of initiation, with full manufacturer compliance required within 2 years of issuance.
- Consumer Information Amendments (Section 3): Updates Section 32302 to require:
- Comparative ratings for vulnerable road user safety technology.
- A notice within 4 years to develop a driver visibility rating system for pedestrians and other users, including methodology for testing and ratings.
- A report to Congress within 5 years on implementing the visibility rating system.
Significant Changes to Existing Law This bill introduces new mandatory rulemaking obligations under Chapter 301 (Motor Vehicle Safety) and expands the consumer information program in Section 32302. It adds definitions for "collision" and "covered road user" and creates explicit timelines and compliance deadlines not previously present in these sections.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases rulemaking and oversight responsibilities for the Department of Transportation, with deadlines extending through at least 2033.
- Citizens: Aims to improve safety for pedestrians and vulnerable road users through vehicle design changes and better consumer information.
- International Relations: No direct effects specified.
- Manufacturers: Requires design modifications and compliance testing for new and existing vehicle models.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Pedestrians, bicyclists, and other vulnerable road users.
- Motor vehicle manufacturers and suppliers.
- The Department of Transportation and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- Congressional committees on commerce and energy.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill relies on existing federal authority over motor vehicle safety without introducing new constitutional questions. It creates enforceable regulatory deadlines that could lead to administrative or judicial review if missed. No international or state preemption issues are addressed in the text.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4], Rep. Friedman, Laura [D-CA-30]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-11: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2026-06-11: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-11: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Pedestrian Protection Act — issued 2026-06-11 — PDF (6 pages)